Adjustable book rack and stand.



. A. A. POSIVAK.

ADJUSTABLE BOOK BACK AND STAND.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1915.

1,170,326. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. A. POSIVAK. I ADJUSTABLE BOOK RACK AND STAND.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1915.

' Patented Feb.1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F ig. 5.

r H n 5555......

NM/I314 200 as ANDREW A. POSIVAK, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE BOOK BACK AND STAND.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, ANDREW AjPosivAn, acitizen of the United States, and residing at South Bethlehem, in the countyof Northamptonand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and 'useful Improvements in Adjustable Book Racks and Stands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in adjustable book rack and stand.

The primary object of'the invention is to provide an article of furniture readily adjusted for use either as a table or an inclined book-holding rack while the' .supporting member is readily adjustably secured at the desired, elevation.

A further object is to provide a doubleleaved table top which is verticallyv adjustable with means for individually tilting the leavesthereof while the latterhave foldable edge strips adapted forsupporting a book thereon when the device is employed as a rack.

A still further object is to provide a special form of height adjusting means for the supporting member ofa table or'rack.

'With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature'of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings forming a part-of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 isa perspective view of the complete device 'po-- sitio-ned as a book-holding rack. Fig. '2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the device looking at the under side of the supporting member positioned for use as a table top. Fig. 3 showslenlarged perspective detail views of the two parts of one of the hinges for the leaves detached, and with the said parts separated from each other. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the adjusting struts for the leaves detached. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sec tional view taken through the supporting member as illustrated in Fig. 2 and showing such member in dotted'lines positioned as a book rack. Fig. 6 is a centralsectional view of Fig. 5, partly in elevation-and with one of the leaves removed, and Fig.7 is a lock- Specification of Letters Patent;

tioned table top or as an inclined book sup; port or rack is mounted upon a vertical post 10 which is provided with a plurality. of supporting feet 11 and may be readily moved about after the manner of a portable stand.

The support consists of a central strip leaf 12 having similar opposite side leaves 1.3 hingedly mounted relatively thereto by means of hinges 14 of the form illustrated'in Fig. 3. A bracket 15 of substantially tri-V angular form has its upper side 16 horizontally-positioned while the strip leaf 12' is fiatlyfsecured' to "the'upp'er surface of the said side 16. The hinges 14 each consist of a strap member 17 which is secured to the under surface of the adjacent. leaf 13 and a cooperating block member 18 which is secured to the under face of the bracket side- 16 asbest illustrated in Fig. 2', and whereby, as will be apparent, theleaves 13 may be readily swung from theirhorizontal mon- Patented Feb. 1, 1916. Application filed. January 4, 1915. Serial No, 326. i I l position inthe table top formation to an 'in-' clinedposition for use as a book rack.

An adjusting strut 19 is provided for each of the leaves 13 being hinged to lugs 20 upon the under surface of the leaves while the said struts are slidably mounted through similar spaced openings 21 of a hug 22 of the inclined side 23 of the bracket whereby theinclination of the leaves may be readily effected. Each of the struts 19 is provided with a terminal hook 24:;on its lower edge which engages the side of its receiving open-,

ing 21 when itsrespective leaf '13 is horizontally positioned while a leaf spring25 carried by the strut engages the upper side of the same opening for retaining the hook 24in such engagementf When desired to shift one of the leaves 13 from their horiz ontal table top position to an inclined position, the strut is shifted against its spring 25iso as to release the engagement 'of its hook 21 and allow the connected leaf to drop of its own weight until the notch 26 in, the lower edge of the strut engages the lower edge of the opening 21, and thus retains the leaf so inclined and at which time positioned substantially "horizontal, as best shown in dotted lines in the strut will be 5. The opposite outer free edges ofthe leaves are provided with book supporting strips 27 hinged thereto by means of the hinge members 28 which allow the strips 27 to swing in an arcuate path of substantially 270. Such opposite edges of the leaves to which the strips 27 are hinged are provided with receiving sockets 29 on their under sides which are adapted for the seating reception of the strips 27 when the leaves are positioned as a table, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5' and at which times, hooks 3 0 which are carired by the ends. of the said strips are engaged with pins 31 upon the outer edges of the adjacent leaves for retaining the strips in their closed positions. When the leaves are shifted to their inclined positions as book-holders, the strips 27 are released and swung to a position perpendicular to th carrying leaves as illustrated in Fig. 1, and at which time the hooks 30 are employed for retaining the strips in such positions. Leaf springs 32 are mounted upon the book-engaging faces of the strips27 having their outer ends flatly secured thereto whereby the book 33or other member to be supported is positioned flatly, upon the inclined leaf and has its edges engageable by the free ends of the springs 32 for retaining the book open at any desired page thereof,

The'bracket 15 has its rear side 34 provided with spaced straps 35 which. surround the post 10 and by means of which straps the bracket is slidably positioned upon the post. The inner face of the post is provided with a longitudinal slot 36 adj acentits upper endand a toothed rack 37 is secured in the bottom ofthe said slot while a gear 38 journaled in a slot 39 of the said bracket side 34 is in constant mesh with the teeth of the said rack By this arrangement it. will be seen that whenever the'bracket is vertically moved, the gear will be turned by reason of its meshing enga ement with the stationary rack heretofore described.

A locking means for the gear 38 is provided of the form shown in Fig. 7 and consists of a block 39 having a single end tooth 4O shiftable transversely of the gear and engageable with the teeth thereof.

A yoke 41 is rigidly secured tothe bracket side 34 at a point above the gear and the block 39 is shiftably mounted within the said yoke means of'a bolt 42 carried by the block and slidably positioned through a longitudinal slot 43 in the forward side of the yoke. Oppositely projecting operating rods 44 terminating in handles 45'are secured at their inner ends to the opposite sides of the block 39 and slidably project through the ends of the yoke while one of the said rods is provided with an encircling expansion spring 46. and whereby the block is, normally positioned'withthe. bolt engaging the inner end of the yoke slot and Copies of this patent may be obtained for with the tooth 40 in looking engagement with the bracket gear.

The complete operation of the device will now be apparent as the manner of adjusting the supporting leaves has been already set forth and it will now be seen that when the locking bolt is normally positioned engaging the bracket gear, a movement imparted thereto in the direction toward the right end of the block yoke by means of the operating rods will disengage the block tooth from the gear, thus allowing the bracket and support to be freely moved either up or down as desired, and during which time the block tooth is held out of engagement with the gear by means of one of the handles 45, and when the desired vertical adjustment is secured, the handle is released and the spring 46 returns the block tooth into its locked engagement with the gear, thus securing the support as positioned.

A serviceable device is thus provided which is designed to fulfil the objects hereinbefore enumerated, the same being capable of employment as a horizontal table top or as a single or double inclined book support.

While the forms of the invention herein shown and described are what are believed to be preferable embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made in the form, proportion and details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim as new is A. device of'the class described comprising the combination with a post having a longitudinal side slot therein, a toothed rack secured within said slot, a bracket vertically slidable upon the. said post and having its inner side provided with a slot adjacent the said post slot, a gear journal led' in the said bracket slot and positioned in constant engagement withthe said rack, a yoke secured to the inner side of the said bracket and having a longitudinal slot in the front side thereof terminating at substantially the cen ter of such side, a locking block for the said gear, a bolt carried by the said block and extending through the said yoke slot, oppositely-arranged operating rods secured to the said block, and anormal positioning spring carried by one of the said rods whereby the saidblock is normally positioned in engagement with the said gear and with the bolt seated at the inner end of the said yoke slot.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence 0 [two witnesses.

ANDREW A. POSIVAK. Witnesses.

J O N ASKREK,

MICHAEL CI-mRoK,

- Washington, D. G." 

